WEBVTT IN 2015.LOCAL LEADERS SAY IT HAS RISENSINCE THEN.THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSELESTIMATES THAT IN 20 -- THAT IN2015, THE OPIOID CRISIS COSTMORE THAN $500 BILLION.>> IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, IT WAS JUSTBEGINNING TO GET STARTED.SIOBHAN: CRITICS SAY THEPRESIDENT DID NOT GO F ENOUGHTO FREE UP ADDITIONAL MONEY WHENHE DECLARED THE CRISIS A HEALTHEMERGENCY.>> WE STILL DO NOT HAVE THERESOURCES FROM THE FEDERALGOVERNMENT THAT WE NEED TO HELPTURN THE TIDE.SIOBHAN: MAGGIE HASSAN IS ONE OFMANY CALLING ON THE PRESIDENTAND CONGRESS TO INVEST $45BILLION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.SHE SAYS IT REALLY SHOULD THEHUNDREDS OF MILLIONS -- HUNDREDSOF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.THERE ARE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COSTSAND LOST PRODUCTIVITY.CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS, ASSOCIATEDWITH ADDICTION, IS ONE OF THEMOST EXPENSIVE AREAS TO COVER.>> IT IS A HUGE HURDLE.SIOBHAN: THE REGIONAL DIRECTORFOR AMERICAN MEDICAL RESPONSESAYS HE IS HONORED THE PRESIDENTACKNOWLEDGED THE SAFE STATIONPROGRAM WHAT -- BUT WOULD LIKETO SEE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR IT.>> WE STARTED THE INITIATIVE ONOUR OWN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.SIOBHAN: HE SAYS SAFE STATIONSHAS THE NUMBERS TO BACK IT ALLOUT.A 24 PERCENT DECREASE INOVERDOSES IN NASHUA AND A 40%

Former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy is calling for an overarching response to the opioid crisis.

The former legislator, who battled with addictions ranging from OxyContin to cocaine, called on senators to have all layers of government respond, rather than just have a couple of agency budgets increase.

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He served on the opioid commission for President Donald Trump, who declared a public health emergency for the epidemic Oct. 26. Kennedy said that designation is just “rearranging chairs of the Titanic.”

The White House stated in October as part of the emergency declaration that more than $1 billion in funding has been allocated or spent directly addressing the drug addiction and opioid crisis since Trump took office.

“All aspects of government need to be called in,” Kennedy said at a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee hearing, "Addressing the Opioid Crisis in America: Prevention, Treatment & Recovery."

“This is something that has to be done across all agencies that may not even understand how and what impact they have in helping” people trying to recover, Kennedy said.

He repeatedly urged the Trump administration to declare an emergency under the Stafford disaster act, advice given in the opioid commission’s final report. The Stafford act provides relief during disasters and emergencies, and Kennedy said this would get additional dollars that won’t come from the normal appropriations process.

Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz said the administration looked at that designation and decided a public health emergency was the best route to go. She said based on her understanding, the designation is usually reserved for geographic types of disasters, which the opioid epidemic is not.

The subcommittee's chairman, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said during opening remarks that he appreciates the president's focus on the problem. Blunt added that there's no silver bullet to solve the crisis.